Cashew Nacho Cheese (soy-free Option)

Creamy, tangy cashew nacho cheese is great for dipping and is great in tacos, burritos, nachos and more. You can make it in the blender, no cooking required and it’s so versatile! Nut-free option

Table of contents

I have a few versions of nacho cheese on the blog. Since they are nut-free, I opted for a nut-based version that is creamier and more decadent. This is a super easy vegan cheese recipe. Simply add everything to the blender and blend until smooth and creamy.

From there, you can customize the flavor by adding more spices or adjust the flavor with lemon juice to make it your own.

Use this cashew nacho cheese on nachos, burritos, a taco casserole, baked potatoes, on blanched broccoli, or whatever you like. For even more flavor, add some salsa and serve with your favorite tortilla chips!

Why You’ll Love Cashew Nacho Cheese

• rich and creamy vegan cheese sauce without oil
• Velvety soft with light smoky and spicy notes
• versatile! Easily adjust the salt level and spiciness. Serve it with nachos, tacos, burritos and more!
• Naturally gluten free with an easy soy free option

Recipe card

Ingredients and Substitutions

• raw cashew nuts – Make sure you soak your cashews in hot water for 15 minutes and then drain them before using them. This will soften them so that they become smooth and creamy. For the neutral taste you need raw cashews. Roasted cashews add too much nutty flavor to the dish. For a nut-free version, I make my nut-free nacho cheese.
• nutritional yeast – Adds cheese flavor and umami. If you don’t want to use nutritional yeast, you can use an additional tablespoon of miso instead.
• Miso – Use yellow miso paste for this cheese sauce recipe. You can also use chickpea miso without soy.
• Lemon Juice – For flavor.
• pickled jalapeños – Adds more spice and some heat. You use both the pepper itself and some of the brine from the jar.
• Salsa – Adds such a lovely flavor! If you prefer, you can also use chopped tomatoes.
• Salt and spices – We season this with smoked paprika, garlic powder and onion powder. For more heat, you can add chipotle chili or cayenne pepper. If you want the color to be more yellow, add some turmeric too.

How to Make Cashew Nacho Cheese Sauce

Soak the cashews if you haven’t already. Let them sit in hot water for 15 minutes and then drain.

Place the soaked and drained cashews in a blender along with the remaining ingredients and then blend for one minute. Check the consistency of the mixture and add 1 to 2 tablespoons more water if necessary. Then mix again for 30 seconds. Let it sit for 5 minutes and then blend again for 5-10 seconds. Let it sit for another 2 minutes and then blend again for half a minute until the mixture is nice and creamy and smooth.

Taste and adjust flavor by adding more lemon, salt, or heat, then mix in these additions. Then transfer to a serving bowl, top with some salsa or pickled jalapeño and serve with nacho chips.